Lead Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Creative Designer

Company: TruGreen

Location: Nashville, TN 37201, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-05-01

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end execution of high-quality creative assets across diverse marketing channels, including digital, print, social, CRM, and paid media.

• Act as a visual brand steward, ensuring consistency and evolution of TruGreen’s identity and design systems across all customer touchpoints.

• Drive performance optimization by leveraging data, analytics, and audience insights to enhance creative clarity, engagement, and conversion rates.

• Integrate AI-driven tools and emerging technologies to increase design efficiencies and streamline creative workflows.

• Collaborate strategically with internal marketing teams and external agency partners to conceptualize and develop impactful campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "Lead Creative Designer" but the responsibilities heavily lean into marketing operations and performance marketing strategy. The emphasis on data-driven optimization, A/B testing, and connecting creative to business impact suggests a strong operations component. The title might be a bit misleading; consider it a hybrid creative/operations role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and execute compelling creative assets for multi-channel marketing campaigns, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and campaign objectives.

• Translate marketing briefs and strategic goals into visually engaging and effective creative solutions that drive desired customer actions.

• Proactively identify opportunities to optimize creative performance through A/B testing, data analysis, and audience segmentation.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems, templates, and creative frameworks to ensure brand consistency and improve workflow efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Analytics, and Product teams to inform creative strategy and ensure seamless execution across all platforms.

• Present creative concepts, rationale, and performance insights to stakeholders, articulating the business impact of design decisions.

• Stay abreast of industry design trends, emerging technologies (including AI), and competitor creative strategies to maintain a competitive edge.

• Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality output.

• Provide constructive feedback to internal teams and external agency partners on creative deliverables and campaign performance.

• Champion creative innovation by exploring new formats, channels, and emerging trends to keep the TruGreen brand fresh and differentiated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic oversight. The "Performance Optimization" and "Process Excellence" sections highlight a strong need for operations-minded individuals who can connect creative output to measurable business results, which is a key characteristic of advanced marketing operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a Lead role with this level of experience.

Experience: 8+ years of professional experience in graphic design, with a demonstrated focus on multi-channel performance marketing.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in design fundamentals: typography, layout, color theory, and composition.

• Proven experience in executing and optimizing creative for digital marketing channels (e.g., social media, paid ads, email, web banners).

• Strong understanding of brand stewardship and ability to maintain and evolve brand identity systems.

• Demonstrated ability to leverage data, analytics, and audience insights to inform creative decisions and drive performance.

• Experience managing multiple complex projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in performance marketing, direct-to-consumer (D2C) environments, or the home services industry.

• Proficiency in motion graphics, video editing, or UX/UI design.

• Experience working with CRM platforms and understanding their creative needs.

• Knowledge of campaign management and marketing automation workflows.

• Experience collaborating with external agency partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "multi-channel performance marketing" and "data-driven creative optimization" strongly suggests that candidates with experience in sales enablement, marketing operations, or GTM strategy will be highly valued, even if their title was not strictly "operations." The emphasis on A/B testing and campaign performance outcomes is a key indicator of this.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is required, showcasing a balance of creative execution and strategic thinking.

• Include examples demonstrating experience across various marketing channels (digital, print, social, CRM, paid media).

• Highlight projects that clearly illustrate how creative efforts contributed to measurable business outcomes (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, ROI).

• Showcase examples of A/B testing strategies and how insights were used to optimize creative.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a deliverable, candidates are expected to articulate their process for:

  • Translating briefs into creative concepts and final assets.

  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

  • Leveraging data and analytics for performance optimization.

  • Managing project timelines and workflow efficiency.

  • Integrating AI tools to enhance design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Lead" role with a strong performance marketing component, the portfolio should not just be a collection of pretty pictures. It needs to tell a story of problem-solving, strategic thinking, and measurable impact, aligning with the core tenets of revenue and sales operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $79,175.00 - $131,958.00 USD per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is determined by the necessary qualifications, including experience, training, and other legal considerations. Factors such as candidate skills, experience, geographic location, and the expected quality/quantity of work will influence the specific offer. Most candidates will likely start in the lower half of the range, with the upper end reserved for those with extensive experience. The company states that pay history will not be a contributing factor where prohibited by local law.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Company-matching 401(k)

• Other programs and perks (details not specified)

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Lead Creative Designer role in Nashville, TN. The mention of "performance optimization" and "connecting creative to business impact" suggests that candidates who can demonstrate a strong ROI for their creative work might be able to negotiate towards the higher end of this range. The benefits package is standard for a full-time corporate role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Home Services (specifically lawn care).

Company Size: TruGreen is a large, established company. Specific employee count is not provided in the raw data, but they are a national brand with a significant operational footprint.

Founded: TruGreen has a long history in the lawn care industry, originating from mergers and acquisitions of various landscaping companies, with its modern iteration dating back decades. This implies a blend of established corporate structure with a focus on service delivery.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Creative Designer reports to the Senior Manager, Brand and Product Marketing.

• This role operates as the "creative execution arm of the marketing department," indicating close collaboration with broader marketing functions.

• Expect to work with internal marketing teams, potentially including brand managers, digital marketers, campaign specialists, and analytics professionals.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative: The role emphasizes a "performance-first mindset," leveraging data, analytics, and audience insights to optimize creative for engagement and conversion.

• Process Excellence: Focus on developing and evolving design systems, scalable creative frameworks, standardized templates, and workflows to drive consistency and efficiency.

• AI Integration: Proactive adoption of AI tools to enhance design workflows and efficiency.

• Strategic Collaboration: Close partnership with marketing and analytics teams to shape campaign concepts and ensure creative alignment with business goals.

Company Website: https://www.trugreen.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: TruGreen's industry (home services) means that creative often needs to be practical, benefit-driven, and focused on driving local lead generation or service sign-ups. The company's established nature suggests a need for adherence to brand standards while also pushing for innovation to stay competitive.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" position, indicating a senior individual contributor role. It requires significant hands-on design expertise combined with the ability to guide creative strategy and execution. It's a step towards potential management or specialized creative direction within the marketing department.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Senior Manager, Brand and Product Marketing. This suggests a clear line of reporting and opportunities for mentorship from a senior marketing leader.

Operations Impact: The Lead Creative Designer is expected to have a direct impact on marketing effectiveness by translating business goals into high-performing creative assets. The emphasis on "performance optimization," "ROI," and "measurable business impact" means this role is critical for driving customer acquisition, engagement, and ultimately, revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership: Opportunity to shape the creative direction for a major brand and mentor junior designers or agency partners.

• Performance Marketing Expertise: Deepen skills in data-driven creative, A/B testing, and campaign optimization, which are highly valuable in marketing operations and GTM roles.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to broader marketing strategy development and campaign ideation.

• Skill Expansion: Potential to develop skills in motion graphics, video, or UX design if those areas are prioritized for growth.

• Industry Specialization: Gain deep expertise in the home services industry and its unique marketing challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: While titled "Designer," the responsibilities and impact align with senior roles in marketing operations or GTM strategy, especially concerning creative campaign execution and optimization. Growth could lead into a Creative Director role, a Senior Marketing Operations Manager role, or a specialized GTM strategist position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Nashville, TN (with a Franklin address mentioned in the description), indicating an on-site or hybrid work environment. The description states, "You MUST BE physically located in the United States while performing this job," and the "remote_derived" status is false, confirming an on-site requirement.

Office Location(s): 701 Cool Springs Blvd, Franklin, Tennessee 37067 is mentioned as a location, alongside Nashville, TN 37201. This suggests the primary work location is likely Franklin, with potential for collaboration or business in Nashville.

Workspace Context:

• Likely a dynamic office environment with opportunities for direct collaboration with marketing teams.

• Access to standard office technology and design software.

• The emphasis on "stakeholder alignment" and "strategic collaboration" implies an environment that values teamwork and cross-functional communication.

• Expect a culture that balances creative expression with business objectives and performance metrics.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. Given the "Lead" title and performance focus, there might be occasional needs for flexibility to meet campaign deadlines or critical project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is crucial. While the description mentions Franklin, TN, the initial job posting location is Nashville, TN. Candidates should clarify the primary work location during the application process. The environment is likely corporate, emphasizing professionalism, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR or recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: A critical step where candidates present their portfolio, demonstrating creative execution, strategic thinking, and performance results. Be prepared to walk through specific projects, explaining your role, process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Senior Manager, Brand and Product Marketing to delve deeper into experience, leadership potential, and strategic approach.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Potential interviews with other marketing team members or stakeholders to assess collaboration style and fit.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: May involve a design challenge or a case study related to optimizing creative for performance, testing hypotheses, or developing a creative strategy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the tools/techniques used, and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics (e.g., conversion rate lift, engagement increase, cost per acquisition reduction) to demonstrate the business impact of your creative work.

• Showcase Process: Include examples of your design process, wireframes, mood boards, and iterations to illustrate your strategic thinking.

• Highlight Performance: Feature projects where you explicitly focused on A/B testing, data analysis, and performance optimization.

• Tailor to TruGreen: Select examples that are relevant to TruGreen's industry (home services, D2C) and their stated priorities (performance marketing, brand stewardship, AI integration).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach a creative challenge for TruGreen, considering their target audience, competitive landscape, and business goals.

• Practice articulating your thought process for optimizing a piece of creative for a specific campaign objective (e.g., lead generation, customer acquisition).

• Prepare to discuss how you would integrate AI tools into your design workflow to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should prepare to defend their creative choices with data and demonstrate a clear understanding of how design contributes to revenue and GTM objectives. This is where a strong operations mindset will shine.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for graphic design.

• Adobe After Effects/Premiere Pro: Likely required for motion graphics and video assets (preferred skill).

• Figma/Sketch/Adobe XD: Potentially used for wireframing, prototyping, or UI/UX design (preferred skill).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics: Understanding how to interpret GA data to inform creative decisions.

• CRM Analytics: Familiarity with CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) to understand customer journeys and campaign performance.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools like Optimizely, VWO, or built-in platform testing capabilities.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Experience with platforms like Marketo, HubSpot, or Pardot for email and campaign execution.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for workflow management.

Emerging Technologies:

• AI Design Tools: Experience with tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, or other generative AI platforms for design ideation and asset creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary focus is design software, the emphasis on "performance optimization," "data, analytics, and audience insights," and "AI integration" means familiarity with analytics platforms, A/B testing tools, and CRM data is highly advantageous and likely expected for a "Lead" role in this context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance-Driven: A strong focus on achieving measurable results and demonstrating the business impact of creative work.

• Data-Informed: Reliance on data, analytics, and audience insights to guide decisions and optimize strategies.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively with internal teams and external partners to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation: Encouraging exploration of new formats, channels, and emerging technologies (like AI) to keep the brand fresh and competitive.

• Efficiency: Developing scalable frameworks and standardized workflows to improve speed and quality of creative output.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close partnership with marketing, analytics, and product teams.

• Agency Management: Working effectively with external creative and production partners.

• Stakeholder Communication: Clear, confident, and persuasive presentation of creative ideas and rationale.

• Constructive Feedback: Ability to give and receive feedback to drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are heavily skewed towards measurable outcomes and data-backed decisions, which are foundational principles of operations roles. Candidates should highlight their ability to translate creative vision into tangible business results.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: Constantly navigating the tension between innovative creative expression and the need for measurable marketing performance and ROI.

• Pace of Change: Keeping up with rapidly evolving design trends, digital marketing channels, and AI technologies.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders: Effectively aligning diverse opinions and priorities from internal teams, management, and external agencies.

• Data Interpretation: Translating complex data and analytics into actionable creative insights.

• Scalability: Developing creative solutions that are both impactful and efficiently scalable across numerous campaigns and channels.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Skills: Opportunity to specialize in areas like motion graphics, video production, or UX/UI design.

• Performance Marketing Acumen: Deepen expertise in data analytics, A/B testing methodologies, and conversion rate optimization.

• AI Integration Expertise: Become a go-to resource for leveraging AI tools in the creative process.

• Strategic Marketing Exposure: Gain insights into broader brand and product marketing strategies.

• Leadership Development: Grow into a recognized creative leader within the marketing department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in creative operations or marketing strategy, requiring adaptability, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills. The growth opportunities highlight paths towards both creative leadership and more strategically focused operations roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used data and analytics to significantly improve the performance of a creative campaign. What was your process, and what were the results?"

• "How do you approach balancing brand consistency with the need for fresh, innovative creative execution across different channels?"

• "Walk us through your process for developing and maintaining a design system or scalable creative framework."

• "How would you integrate AI tools into your workflow to enhance efficiency and creative output for TruGreen?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about TruGreen's brand and competitive landscape? How would your creative approach differentiate us?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to TruGreen's overall business objectives?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with marketing and analytics teams."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Start with an overview of TruGreen's potential needs and how your skills align. Then, present 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your capabilities in performance marketing, brand stewardship, and strategic problem-solving.

• Quantify Everything: For each project, clearly state the objective, your specific contribution, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the measurable results (e.g., % lift in conversions, reduction in CPA, increase in engagement).

• Explain the 'Why': Articulate the strategic thinking behind your design choices. Why did you choose this color palette? Why this typography? How does this composition drive engagement?

• Showcase Process: Briefly touch upon your process, including any research, iterations, or testing involved.

• AI Integration Examples: If possible, include a project where you leveraged AI tools, or discuss how you would use them for specific TruGreen needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also a strategic, data-driven, and operations-minded approach to creative execution. Candidates should be prepared to speak the language of marketing effectiveness and ROI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://trugreen.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/USExternalCareers/job/Nashville-TN-37201/Lead-Creative-Designer_R35668

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature examples of performance marketing creative, A/B testing, data-driven optimizations, and brand stewardship. Tailor your selection to align with the home services industry and TruGreen's likely marketing objectives.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 8+ years of experience, specific achievements in performance marketing, proficiency with design tools, and any experience with AI integration, D2C, or home services. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and the measurable impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you connect creative execution to business outcomes and how you would approach creative challenges for TruGreen.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with TruGreen's current marketing campaigns, brand messaging, and competitors. Understand their business model and target audience to better tailor your responses and portfolio presentation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.